This year, for the first time, I decided to try to keep a running log of everything I listened to, if only so I could ctrl+f to remember if I hated some new band I was being emailed about for the third time. (Yup.) I listen to maybe 5% of what I get sent and there are plenty of bands I listened to who didn’t make it into these notes, which means there are too many bands. I thought it might be worthwhile, or at least amusing, to share the list of bands that didn’t make it onto Rawkblog this year for one reason or another. Most of these totally unedited notes/opinions are based on hearing 30 seconds or less of one song, so, uh, if it turns out any of these bands are good, I apologize. (In fact, some of them are!) Also, I apologize in advance to the letter “Z” and the phrase “Bland of Boreses.”

Sweet Lights – Belligerent MGMT

White Fence –Too classic rock

Cigarette Bums – Too Cold War Kids

Esben and the Witch –Psyched-out post-XX, snooze

Jamie Woon – Junior Bores

Mona –Emo U2. Ouch.

Peter Bjorn and John –Peter Bjored and John

Wye Oak – Sort of like a guitar version of Beach House, weirdly? Also, boring.

Danger Mouse and Daniele Luppi – Really? This is it? After that press release?